I'm so lame...

This is my 3rd attempt to load a larger photo...if you are related to me and your last name is Taylor...and I nursed you at one point...do not log on and tell me how lame I am at this game...I already know that! :) XXOO

Let me try again

I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMill

June 7th is gearing up to be an eventful day here in Paarl. The Lukhanyo Community Center in Mbekweni is going to make history by renting the Paarl Town Hall and bringing their youth (and an adult choir) across the great cultural divide to extend a hand of friendship. The organization's only goal is to invite white and colored South Africans in to Mbekweni by coming across the invisible barriers first. What a noble and maverick leadership Lukhanyo has at the helm!
Sidwell and Wellington approached me, on the counsel of an MCM staff member...who now owes me big time...and asked if I would direct the entire effort. Actually they didn't ask. They merely put a deposit down on town hall and then handed me the keys. I love these guys and have the same passion they do for doing cross cultural ministry, so with the help of Andisiwe, Yolanda and Mphati, as well as the Lukhanyo staff and MCM team, we are well on our way to creating a cultural sampler platter using acts from Paarl East (the colored community), Mbekweni and Paarl. White, black and colored...all the colors of God's rainbow.
The photos are of Yolanda and I watching a talent show in the community as we try to narrow down the 6 hour program (typical Xhosa talent show- I love it!) to a 2 hour palatable experience. (I'm the Caucasian in the middle) The girls in school uniforms are 'Sarafina', a dance troupe. They are AMAZING!!!!!
Yes...you are absolutely correct in thinking I'm right in my element!

Xhosa Funeral

Every weekend you can make a sure bet on two things. Laundry will be hanging between every shack in the community and a half a dozen funeral tents will be erected and filled. A Xhosa funeral is easy to spot. The family puts up a big circus type tent (they actually look like our fumigation tents) and fill the yard with as many chairs as they can come up with and for a week family members from all over South Africa come and eat, drink and make merry, all while paying their respects to the departed and the immediate family.
I was struck this week by the devotion of the Mbekweni community as hundreds of people came out for the funeral of a middle aged woman who had been very active in the neighborhood and a positive influence over youth and local politics. Whether people had a relationship with her or not, they came to the funeral. It's what you do here. When a member of your community falls, you pick each other up. You all feel the effects of someone else's loss. It's really a beautiful quality that demonstrates the African Philosophy 'Ubuntu'...which means 'I am because we are'.

CrossWinds strikes again!

Hey CrossWinds! You guys rock! Holiday Clubs totaling over 700 kids, hosting and running the women's retreat, helping out at the TB/HIV Hospital, loading up water bottles on the truck, repairing all of the MCM chairs, moving the Taylor's into their new home, worshipping at 2 indigenous churches and countless hours spent encouraging me and making me laugh...ahh ...American humor and wit, how I've missed you. :) I love you all! You can all come back anytime!

So much for the poof....

Jeanne loves to be pampered, but this was ridiculous. :) She just sat and let the girls run their little dirty hands through her hair, lice and TB be damned! When you are in the presence of such love, such vulnerable need, you throw caution to the wind and allow the Holy Spirit to run the whole show...just the way He likes it. I wasn't sure if Jeanne was going to get back on the plane, so moved was she. Now, if we can only get Eck here...but what would the kids 'fashion' on him? He's completely hairless (a body builder).

Just us girls!

The second American team that visited Paarl this year was from my home church, CrossWinds , in Dublin, CA. The team was lead by the beautiful and talented Emily Nelson! Seeing that Jeanne, Cindy and Em are some of my most favorite people ever I had a wonderful time laughing, praying, talking and soaking the glorious friendships that can only be found through the bonds of time. These 3 have helped walk me through the last 3 years and I am here because of their prayers and encouragement. Throw in an atomic BLOM and it's a wild ride (the South African in the green shirt).

Every good and perfect gift....

Our new living space. Entertainment center courtesy of our landlords, all other furniture courtesy of MCM friends, wall hanging courtesy of Noni and Otto and Gigi bought the rug. So many others have contributed gifts that have helped us set up house, and for that I am deeply grateful. We came to this country with about 20 boxes...most of them books. We knew we were going to have to trust God for everything else and I'm constantly baffled/amazed/smiling at a God who meets our every need and then some! The house is plenty big for visitors...so what are you waiting for? You know you've always wanted to come see what God's doing in South africa. Now is the time!

Sam, Joe and Jesse want to get a monkey...

My favorite part of the new house...the arboretum. The house is actually two small houses that the were conjoined to form a bigger home. The arboretum was the space between the two houses, so the windows you see are actually bathroom windows. :) Needless to say- this is my favorite part of the whole house. I think I'll just move my bed into the hall and sleep under the trees every night.
And, NO, boys, we will not cage it all in and get a pet monkey. Any pet that throws poop is not allowed in the house...or near the house...

I'm baaaack!!!

God speaks loud and often in South Africa! That's a saying you hear many times in this country, and I have found it to be very true. The boys and I have been here over 8 months now , and even though we have some routines and many South African friendships, I still feel as though I am in a steep learning curve. I struggle with the languages (there are 4 locally) and I struggle with understanding how and when to help the poor. They are on my door step every day, picking avocados off my tree, digging through my garbage cans and looking in my windows from the sidewalk, hoping to catch my eye in case I'm in a merciful, giving mood. Often times, I politely wave them on, sometimes I firmly wave them away...and then I cry out to the Lord- "Father, I don't know how to do this. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. You say the poor will always be among you, and they are. If I'm not immersed in their community then they come over the river to mine."

I am energized by the cross cultural experiences that MCM has been enjoying lately. We have had some real ground breaking experiences...which I will blog on about later, but for now I can log off and know that my family will stop emailing me telling me to update my blog! :) Love you guys! See you 8 months!

Coastline Community Church makes an impact in Paarl East and Mbekweni!

What a blessing for the boys and I to have Coastline Community Church from San Diego, CA come for 2 weeks! It was a special joy for me, given the Senior Pastor of their church , James Cristoferson,is an old friend of mine from way way back. James and Kelly and Ty and I did ministry together for about 12 years at North Coast Pres Church in Encinitas. I'd forgotten that James and I are two peas in a pod, so the laugh riot was never ending and the brain waves were all firing on the same circuits! The whole team, which actually came from 3 different churches, was moved by God in a mighty way!

One of the community service projects that the Coastline Team helped with was the painting of the Lukhanyo Community Center. Sidwell, the manager of the center, chose the color scheme...we just painted and worked in the garden! Needless to say. you can see the center now from a long way off! Thanks Coastline for the labor of love!...in 110 degree whether no less!

On Top of Table Mountain

When the short term teams from the US come and visit, sometimes we tag along and do some sight seeing. One destination that never disappoints is on top of Table Mountain. Sam and Joe and I obviously spend a lot of time together, but they have some good friends in the intern program and Sam has a few buddies in Paarl East. The only hard part for the boys is that , generally speaking, the races tend to stay in their own communities and don't mix it up much. Since the boys made friends with mostly guys in Paarl East and Mbekweni, they don't 'hang' too much, unless it's with Jesse, Lubabalo, Josh or Lungile. Keep praying that we find a church home and that the boys make some new friends.

Sherline was a big hit, as always!

I had the great blessing of having Sherline Montgomery, one of my dearest friends from California, come and visit for a couple of weeks. We did a load of sight seeing and she was able to accompany me to a couple ministry centers. Being a teacher for 27 years and a children's pastor for 10, Sherline is always a big hit with children, whether she speaks the language or not! Hugs are universal! Thanks Sherline, for traveling half way around the world to come and spend time with us!

Jesse and Lungile disciple at Lukhanyo.

Jesse and Lungile are busy discipling their small group at the Lukhanyo Community Center in Mbekweni. Jesse is a new edition to our ministry. He joined us in late Jan and is living in the MC House with 4 young adults from Mbekweni and Josh Keen, from California. I'm still writing discipleship lessons for our large group Bible studies and enjoying watching the Interns walk out the program. I'm teaching a couple of mornings a week in the Upper Room; Biblical overview, Boundaries, some Spiritual Formation classes, for now.

After 8 months....we're HOME!